Driving Driving

Our journey to Hilton Head involved a lot of driving!  It was 950+ miles down and 950+ miles back home again.  Going down, on the second day, we encountered heavy heavy rains, deluge, hour after hour.  On the way back, the second day was rain, sleet, wintry mix, and snow.  Thankfully,  we did ten hours on the first day, which brought beautiful blue skies, warm and sunny weather.  The six hours of day two were constantly tense, due to slippery conditions, poor visibility, and no let up.

 A change of scenery is a good thing.  Going other places and seeing new sights is a welcome change.   And it is always good to get home.

The best part of being down south was that it was definitely springtime there;  daffodils were past their prime,  Trees and shrubs, lawns were beginning to turn green, and put out buds and blossoms.   We enjoyed walking on the beach, playing tennis outside,  taking pictures, exploring, etc.  

I have more to share, but it is late, and I am tired, so goodnight blog.

Hearing Problem

Somewhere in the midst of all my various ailments lately,  a new one suddenly came on the radar.     Maybe there is fluid in my ears, or wax or both.  I have had a long bout of sinus and cold related issues.    But yesterday, suddenly, I could not hear!   Both ears were stuffed up at the same time.  That is honestly, the first time I have experienced what it is like to be seriously hearing impaired.  And let me tell you, it is terrible.  It happened on a Sunday morning, and I went to worship services anyway,  but it was just dreadful not to be able to hear, and worst of all,  not even to be able to hear what I sound like.  I definitely did not attempt any singing.  I just moved my lips.

When I discovered this in the early morning, getting ready,  it felt so weird, I stood in the bathroom, saying out loud  "Testing, one, two three, testing."  to see if I could hear my own voice, or what it sounded like.   Toward the end of the service, one ear popped a little and opened up somewhat.   I was so very thankful for having some ability to hear.   I can understand how hard it must be for hearing impaired individuals to be in public places.  I can see how isolating it is.

Today, I can hear a little better than yesterday morning.  Sound is coming in both ears a little, but I'd say I'm at no more than fifty percent capacity.

I just made a quick trip to daughter Brenda's, who has also had the same cold and sinus problems.  She said she had had fluid in her ears.  That helped me to think of it as part of this awful viral affliction, and hope that this too, shall pass.

If not, off to a hearing specialist I go. I thought it was bad when I could not taste, or smell.  But  not being able to hear is the worst, really dreadful!   I would not wish this on anyone.

Change of Scenery

We have a mini vacation coming up before long.  It's always nice to have a change of scenery.  This one was supposed to be about getting away from the terrible winter cold to warmer temperature.   But I realize that the strange weather we are having could actually produce almost anything, either here, or in our warmer climate.   It could be cold there.  It could be warm here.  We've had that happen before.

Some years back, Gerry had a conference in New Orleans; our youngest child was three at the time.  She and I joined Gerry toward the end of his conference.   We packed and dressed for the expected temperatures there, warmer.   

And almost predictably,  the temperature plummeted to the high thirties, with high winds.  As I recall, it stayed unseasonably cold for the entire time that we were there.  I also recall that Vic fell asleep just before we landed in central New York.  It was just the two of us traveling.  She was deeply asleep, and I had to carry her out of the plane and to the car, which was parked in an outside parking lot, quite a distance away,  and covered with a foot of snow.  I also had to carry our suitcase.  I can remember that being one of the more challenging of our trips,  though most of my travel seems to have been challenging for one reason or another.

I'll hope for cold weather in New York, and very warm weather further South.  Hopefully, this will be a winter tennis trip, rather than a winter skiing trip, weather permitting!

For most of my past trips, I have traveled light. This time, I plan to be better prepared.    At least in the area of clothes---I will have clothes that will cover both possible temperature extremes.   

Of course, life happens, and you can never be prepared for everything.

Handsome Pair

It is a weekend for family celebrations.  V&M are home for the weekend.  Today they went skiing with Gerry.   Sunday we are all gathering at Brenda's to celebrate Sadie's third birthday.   In between now and then,  V&M have lots of plans of their own.  To the left, they are dressed up to go out to a favorite fancy restaurant.   They both looked just smashingly handsome!

By my calculations,  this must be about a year and a half since their wedding.  Maybe this is an 18 month anniversary.  They are going to the same place where the rehearsal dinner was held.  What an event that was!  As I recall, I had a couple of glasses of wine (too many), but it was a fun time.

I think I'll post a close-up of the two of them.  I can post pictures, though not names.  That is so that every time someone Googles their name, they don't end up on my blog.

As aging senior citizens, it's hard to believe we have such beautiful children in their twenties.

In That Loop

 In my ministry work over the years, I often saw what it was like to get in that medical loop, particularly as one ages.  I have avoided it as long as possible.  Recently, I decided that just in case I get sick, I should probably meet my doctor.  But to do so, puts one right in the middle of that loop.

Also, due to my own personal experiences of doctors over the past twenty five years, I have developed some strongly held opinions.  Namely,  after taking several prescriptions that were pushed by the doctors and discovering the adverse affects on my body,  I am not inclined to take medications, unless it is absolutely necessary (or unless it is a short term antibiotic).  If one wants to avoid medications, the bottom line is, one needs to avoid doctors.

I met with my new general practitioner two days ago and it was an interesting experience.  There were tests that I knew that I needed which were long overdue.  There were different tests that she wanted me to have, which she thought were overdue.  It was a matter of negotiation.  I was checking her out.  She was trying to figure me out, and could tell you just couldn't push me too far too fast.  I would certainly own up to being among the worst and most opinionated of patients   Soon I was booked for blood work, a physical, an EKG, etc.

The night before that,  I had broken a molar, and today I had an appointment with my dentist.  As it turns out,the tooth is not repair-able, and so I am scheduled for an extraction on Monday.  Tuesday the doctor.  Wednesday the dentist, Thursday the blood work, Monday the extracting dentist; next week the appointment for a physical.   I have gone from being completely well and healthy, to suddenly finding myself caught up in the vortex of the ever swirling medical loop.

This is exactly what I did not want to happen.  But here it is.  I can only hope that this is temporary and will pass.  Hopefully, it is not the beginning of that long road of medical maintenance for the aging.  Ugh!!

Alterations

Some time back,  Gerry bought an inexpensive jacket and the sleeves were too short.  I hated the way that looked, so I took the jacket to the tailor.  The tailor described how difficult and challenging it would be to open up that sleeve and let it out and adjust the lining, etc.  I thought the price they quoted was outlandish, and did not leave the jacket there.  I decided that maybe some day I would be adventurous and do it myself.

I have not yet attempted Gerry's jacket yet, but I have altered several of my own lined blazers. I figured there was not much to lose since I wear more casual clothes now.  I discovered that making alterations is indeed a challenge.  And that got me to thinking about alterations as a metaphor for life.  Life alterations are really hard too, whether that is to quit a bad habit;  or to exercise more and eat less. Sometimes the sacrifice is too great to make, so alterations never get done.  Other times, the cost is too high, and nothing changes.

But there are payoffs for alterations made.  If apparel fits better, you feel better and look better.   The same is true for life alterations--at least those made toward a more positive and healthy direction.  If one quits smoking, better health is a definite outcome. If you exercise, the blood pressure goes down.  I guess I always have work to do on alterations, of one kind or another!

I am happy to report that I have indeed made successful alterations to a number of my blazers.  It is a lot of work and daring work if you don't really know what you are doing. One blazer I had really not worn more than once or twice, so I wanted to alter that one first, because less was at stake.  I kept thinking about it. Some time later,  I opened the lining up and turned in inside out, only to discover that I had already done it!  (and did not remember)!  That did cause me some concern!  Hopefully, that was just an anomaly!